A puzzling performance from Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia has left the MotoGP community baffled. The Italian rider's struggles at the Australian Grand Prix sprint are a continuation of a challenging season, raising questions about his future with the team.
Starting from 11th on the grid, Bagnaia quickly dropped to 19th by the fourth lap, and his pace remained inconsistent throughout the race. Despite a slight improvement towards the end, he finished a disappointing second-to-last, ahead of only the test rider Michele Pirro.
"It's a very difficult situation," Bagnaia admitted. "The data is clear; the bike is shaking excessively, but we're unable to pinpoint the cause. We've tried various solutions, but it's not related to the electronics. It's a mysterious issue we're determined to unravel."
Adding to the enigma, Bagnaia experienced a peculiar phenomenon on Friday. Riding two identical bikes, he felt a significant difference in their performance, with one bike suiting his style and earning him a direct entry into Q2, while the other left him struggling.
As the weekend progressed, Bagnaia's preferred bike let him down, leaving him feeling like a mere passenger during qualifying and the sprint. "It's strange because I felt better yesterday and this morning. But in qualifying and the sprint, I couldn't control the bike. I was just trying to manage the shaking, which is unusual."
Bagnaia's long-term future with Ducati is now in question, with his contract set to expire in 2026. When asked about the impact of another challenging season, he acknowledged the difficulty, but pointed to his performance at Motegi as a bright spot, showcasing his capabilities and the team's potential.
"Finishing the season like this is tough, but Motegi proved we can fight. We just need to understand why that situation occurred only at Motegi. It's a mystery we're determined to solve."
Bagnaia will start Sunday's race from 14th position due to a grid penalty for impeding another rider during qualifying. The photos from the Australian GP - Qualifying & Sprint capture the intensity and drama of the weekend.
The Australian GP has certainly been a challenging one for Ducati, and Bagnaia's struggles have brought attention to the team's performance. Can they turn it around for Sunday's race? Only time will tell, but for now, the mystery of Bagnaia's shaking Ducati remains unsolved.
What do you think? Could there be a simple solution to this complex issue? Or is it a deeper problem that requires a complete overhaul? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
